Spanish economy

autonomous regions

Spanish Regions Ahead Of Central Government In ESG-Linked Bonds Funding

Last week the Spanish Treasury made its debut in green debt issuance. However, the autonomous communities are ahead of the pack. As told in an analyis of Scope Ratings, sovereign lending became the primary funding source for Spanish regions as the euro area debt crisis hampered access to capital markets. Madrid, the Basque Country and Andalusia have come to market this year, raising so far an aggregate 3.5 Bn euros in ESG-linked bond.


wholeshale electricity market

The Spanish Electricity Sector Reform Will Force Large Utilities To Auction Part Of Their Energy Out Of The Pool

The price of electricity in Spain once again break through the historical maximum yesterday and exceedeed 150 euros for the first time in history. In order to cushion the impact of these soaring prices on electricity bills, the government is preparing a shock plan whose main measure will force the major electricity companies (Iberdrola, Endesa, Naturgy and EDP) to auction energy among retailers and industrial companies.


BonosVerdes 3

Spain Joins The Club Of Sovereign Green Bond Issuers

Fernando Rodríguez | The Spanish government has issued its first green bond for 5 billion euros, as part of a sustainable financing programme which the latest Treasury’s estimates amounted to 20 billion euros. The funds will be used to finance projects which promote the ecological transition. They are aimed at mitigating and adapting to climate change, the sustainable use and protection of water and sea resources, the transition to a…



Just Sanchez

Delivering A Fair Recovery

JP Marín-Arrese | The Spanish PM Sánchez seeks to regain his dwindling popular support after the crushing defeat in Madrid’s regional elections back in May. At mid-term, he discovered, much to his surprise, the cost of enforcing long-lasting restrictions to overcome the pandemic. The Opposition took advantage of the people’s weariness and fear of lay-offs. His initial steps to stage a large-scale inclusive revolution either faded away or didn’t pay…


ibex chulisima

Shareholders Rejected Only Three Proposals From Ibex Companies At The 2021 AGMs

Fernando Rodríguez | Ibex 35 companies encountered symbolic opposition to their proposed resolutions at the shareholders’ meetings held this year, according to Georgeson’s annual report on the 2021 season. Only three companies saw an item on the agenda of their meetings held in 2021 defeated: Acerinox, in April, which failed to approve a debt issue for 600 million euros; Amadeus, which saw its remuneration report rejected with 61.48% of votes against; and IAG, which also failed to push through its proposal to reduce the deadline for convening extraordinary general meetings to 15 days.


spanish coast property

How Has The Slump In Foreign Tourism Affected The Residential Property Market?

Judit Montoriol-Garriga (CaixaBank Research)| There is no doubt that the pandemic severely affected the property market on the Mediterranean coast and islands throughout 2020 and the first few months of 2021. The slump in international tourism due to restrictions on travel and uncertainty regarding how the health and economic situation would develop have led to a significant decline in the number of foreigners buying residential properties in Spain, plummeting by…


socorro fernandez larrea 777x400 a

“All Neighbouring Electricity Markets Have Been At Record Highs For Days. The Rules Are The Same Throughout Europe, And They Are Not Going To Change Them”

Almudena Díez | Red Electrica’s Director -Socorro Fernández Larrea- explains why the current price of electricity in Spain (140€ MW/h) has been at record highs for days: Q: How do you explain to consumers that the system can have such sharp fluctuations in the price of electricity that directly affect their pockets? A: Very easily, by telling the truth, if you like. The problem arises because the price of energy…


banco sabadell palmeras

Banco Sabadell Wants To Shed A Further 12% Of Its Workforce, 1,900 Workers

Banco Sabadell has proposed a redundancy plan for 1,900 employees to the trade unions, which could mean the closure of between 230 and 300 branches. It should help the bank to improve its low profitability, ROE, of 3.1% on equity, far from the cost of capital (which can be up to three times higher). It is also way off the profitability obtained by its Spanish competitors (Santander and BBVA have…


Virgin Liberty O2

Telefónica Aims To Put The UK On A Par With Spain In Fiber Optic Installation

Last August, in an interview with the Times, Telefónica’s chairman, José María Álvarez-Pallete, urged the United Kingdom to follow Spain’s example in fiber optics so as not to miss out on the digital revolution. Pallete remarked that in Spain there is more fiber optic than in the UK, France, Germany and Portugal together, with a penetration of 70%, compared to only 3% in the UK. Yesterday it was learned that…